The Demon snarled, and slashed at her again, but the leather she wore once more deflected it's talons.  Then Andy tackled it.  Yes, she could see precisely where he got that leather.

Victoria briefly realized where the skin of her armor came from, but she knew that she didn't have time to bring it up. Nor the inclination.

If Andy hadn't finished off the demon, Victoria would attempt to behead the foul beast.

  Combat between Demons was a bloody, dangerous, violent thing, and the snarls, growls, and flying blood.  She knew, however, when the combat ended, because Andy punched into the Demon's chest, ripping it's heart, and something else out with it, and wolfed it down, making the something disappear.  But it made his eyes glow like small amethyst suns, and he gave an all over shudder as his wings flexed, spikes rising up along the vanes, then sinking back down as his tail lashed.  "Rrrrr.  That one was a strong one."

Victoria saw the decisive end, and the fatality that followed.

"Indeed...but you showed him. Just...please don't hurt yourself on my account, ok? Please? You've been through so much pain already, and I couldn't have it on my conscience if you're hurting yourself for me."

  He gave his wings a flick, and said "Don't worry, Vic.  I bounce back.  A partblood-Demon who hasn't died, but is banished to Hell learns REAL fast how to fully handle their heritage, or they DO end up dead.  Some things . . . . don't register the same anymore.  Pain is one of them."  He curled his bloody hand into a fist, the black stuff from the other Demon indistinguishable from his own black blood as his talons sank right through, then he spread his hand, and the holes she could see melted away.  "It doesn't touch the ME that matters, it's just the shell that registers it.  That's why you can blow me up, and I just come back a little pissed off because I had to spend so much energy to reform."

Victoria frowned, but nodded.

"I know you have a new tolerance for pain now, Andy. But it doesn't make it easier knowing what you're doing..the price you're paying..to keep me safe. But I am amazed by your devotion..and I hope to be worthy of that devotion."

  Using his (relatively) clean arm, he swept her close, and hugged her tightly as he said "No, pain isn't PAIN in most places, Vic.  My wings, my eyes, but just about anywhere else, pain doesn't read as pain.  It's like being a Demon crosses the wires.  It's . . . pleasure, really.  Now you see why I don't really explain it?  It sounds . . . wrong."

Victoria rested her head against Andy's strong chest.

"I'm in this for the long haul, Andy. I have a feeling that you are too."

  He kissed the top of her head, and said softly "Longer than you probably expected.  You know you won't age now, what with having your own Demon Bound to you with True Bindings.  You will not die of old age, you can only be killed."  She heard the sound of a chunk of meat being ripped off the fallen Demon as he cradled her against his chest, and he added softly "Even if you did get one that's technically a cannibal."

Victoria arced a curious eyebrow at Andy.

"So...you're saying that I won't age...because we're bound together? That was something I certainly didn't expect. And I would normally find that far-fetched...except for the fact that I practice magic. I just never thought it would happen to me."

  Andy shook his head, and said quietly "Because we're bound with a True Bind, not a sorcerous binding.  Love, makes my blood turn from bitter nastiness, to dark chocolate flavor to you.  It also turns it, so that instead of Damning you, and turning YOU into a Demon, it simply stops your aging and makes you live forever, or until someone straight out kills you."

Victoria once again laid her head on Andy's strong chest.

Softly, she replied "I...I don't know what to say. When I came to know you, I thought I was the one saving you. Turns out that it's a mutual saving, though we will certainly have our fair share of battles to fight."

  He stroked her hair, and said "It's not something we tell anyone.  For one, people would think 'oh, just bind a Demon and I can be immortal', which isn't the case.  Another reason is, it's RARE, Vic, for someone to look past the 'oh my god it's a DEMON' factor to actually LOVE us."  He kissed the top of her head, then added "After all, the last thing someone wants to do is bring their beloved home and say "Oh, Mom, I met this wonderful person, I just can't get married to them in a church because, well, they're Damned, and a Demon."  That  tends to go over like the case of explosive diarrhea in church does."

"I understand Andy...though I haven't seen my family in some time. I don't know how I'd even approach them, with all that's happened to me, and all of the things I've done as The Black Jaguar."

  Andy chuckled, and said "That's an easy one.  We go, we visit, you introduce me as your boyfriend or fiancee or whatever, and we do NOT tell them what you do now."  He hugged her closely, and whispered "And we CERTAINLY don't tell them that your man can get blown up and fixes just fine."

Victoria chuckled for a moment.

"I..I've just never really had the time to visit them. It always seems that there is one emergency after another. They seem to have been running non stop lately."

  He chuckled, and said "Hrmm.  I think we can spare an hour or two.  Things down here have apparently been festering for a while.  So when would you like to go visit them?  I CAN teleport, you know."

Victoria chuckled again.

"Well...I'm covered in the blood of so many species I could open up an extradimensional zoo, so I could certainly use a REALLY good shower. Then maybe afterwards, we could drop by. At least for a moment to let them know that I'm still thinking about them."

  Andy laughed, and said "The only type you'd really have trouble explaining, my dear, is the black stuff.  The rest can all be blamed on various terrestrial species, even if it isn't necessarily the case.  So, off to the showers with you, and then to see your family.  They may yet wonder what you brought home to meet them!"

  -----------Vic's Place

Soon they arrived at an isolated spot overlooking  Weston Harbor. He killed the motorcycle and stepped off. "This is my favorite spot to just sit and watch the world go by. I used to come here a lot when my uncle-" He stopped swallowing quickly before saying nonchalantly. "Got mad at me."

  Bella smiled, and said "I like this place.  It sounds soothing to the soul.  We all need places like this."  She held his hand though, not letting go.

"It is." He led her over near the edge so they could better see the water and sat down still holding her hand.

  Still holding his hand, Bella said softly "Sometimes I wiah I was normal, just because nobody would be afraid of me then."

"Theres really no such thing as normal. Its an unattainable goal. Sure you can be 'average' but kids don't kill themselves over being 'average'. Normal is just what society says you should be like but no one really fits wholly into that definition.""
This message was last updated by the player at 08:51, Mon 16 Apr 2012.

  Bella half smiled, and said "True.  But being exceptional isn't always a pleasure."